face_] if I
tell you where to find it, you must come back and give me my share.

MICHAEL
[_Staring at her._]
Another pack of lies! What are you up to, eh?

ARRAM
It's been too much for her nerves. Don't worry her, or she'll go out of
her mind, and then there'll be nobody to get us our supper.

NANKO
That _would_ be selfish, Rada. You know it's Christmas Eve. Nobody ought
to think of unpleasant things on Christmas Eve. I don't think it's right
to spoil people's pleasure on Christmas Eve. What have you done with the
Christmas tree, Rada?

ARRAM
And who's to blame? That's what I want to know. You don't blame _us_, do
you? Why, as likely as not, we shall be fighting on _your_ side against
somebody else before next Christmas.

MICHAEL
What have you got in there?
[_He points to the door on the left again and advances toward it._]

RADA
[_Hurriedly and as if misunderstanding him, opens a cupboard between him
and the door._]
Food! Food! Food for hungry men! Food enough for a wolf-pack. Come on,
help yourselves!

MICHAEL
Holy St. Peter, what a larder! Look at this, Arram. Here's a dinner for
forty men.

RADA
[_Laughing wildly._]
Better take your pick before the others come. It's our Christmas dinner.

[_She thrusts dishes into _MICHAEL'S_ hands and begins loading the table
with food._]

NANKO
If you happen to have any crystallized plums there, Rada, you might give
me one.

ARRAM
Lord, what a sight for hungry soldiers! We're in luck's way. Here, fetch
me a bowl of water! I'm hungry; but there are times when you can't enjoy
food without washing your hands.

[RADA _hesitates, then goes out of the room._ ARRAM _holds out a ring to_
MICHAEL.]

Her husband's ring. I got it off his finger
When he went down. He lay there on his back
Howling like a wolf, with his belly blown out.
I put him out of his misery. Look at my hands.
Ugh! I want to wash.

[NANKO _rises and peers at them._]

NANKO
Ah, but they're red.
Red, aren't they? And there's red on your coat, too.

[_He fingers it curiously._]

I suppose that's blood, eh? People are such cowards.
Many of them never seem to understand
That man's a fighting animal. They're afraid,
Dreadfully afraid of the sight of blood.
I think it's a beautiful colour, beautiful!
You know, in the Old Testament, they used
To splash it on the door-posts.

ARRAM
[_Pushing him off._]
Go and sit down,
You crazy old devil!

[RADA _enters with a bowl of water, sets it on